Jerry's Pick: "Demon Dance"

"DEMON DANCE"-SURFER BLOOD

(click on the title above to listen to the song!)

 

(This may sound a bit macabre, but) I love Surfer Blood!  As freshman, this quartet of students at Florida Atlantic University recorded their first album (Astro Coast) in an off-campus apartment in Boca Raton using Chinese microphones and a cheap Pro Tools rig on an old Hewlett-Packard computer with Windows XP.  That honest and somewhat innocent garage rocker-of-an-album gave me two of my favorite indy tracks of 2010… "Swim" and "Floating Vibes."  And I've been waiting for something new from the guys ever since.

Now -- with major-label assistance from Warner Brothers Records and veteran producer Gil Norton (Pixies, Echo & the Bunnyman, Foo Fighters) -- Surfer Blood has released a new single called "Demon Dance" which proved definitely worth-the-wait!  Sure, they sound a bit more polished, but they still retained their quirky personality and some of that gritty, grungy, garage-rock feel.  You'll hear that in the song's heavy-metal middle-eight where lead-vocalist John Paul Pitts screams out a bridge over distorted guitars -- recently reminiscent of Dave Grohl's shouts on "Walk" two years ago.  And it all takes place over a contrasting subtle chorus of "ahhh's" that maintain the song's continuity.

Some of the words to "Demon Dance" may sound a bit dark -- "The hounds of hell need love and care, the hounds need organs and limbs to tear" -- but are instead a bit droll and, according to Pitts, inspired by Sherlock Holmes.   He explained to Rolling Stone, "The lyrics may seem cryptic compared to the straightforward nature of the song, but the song is about dishonest and cruel people I've encountered against the backdrop of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 'The Hound of the Baskervilles'."  (I especially enjoyed the band's artful glow-in-the-dark doggy reference.)

And -- like Sir Arthur's name -- Pitts' vocals lend a bit of an English feel to Surfer Blood.  That's why I have come to the conclusion that "Demon Dance" is the best British-sounding power-punk single not to emanate from Britain.

Although "Demon Dance" was just recently released as a single, you'll have to wait a few more weeks for the official unveiling of that new Surfer Blood album.  Pythons will be ready for uploading on June 11th.  (Their new music video can be viewed below.)

"Excellent!" I cried.  "Elementary," said he.

Jerry's Pick: "Still Into You"

"STILL INTO YOU"-PARAMORE

(click on the title above to listen to the song!)

Have you ever been in one of those rare, one-of-a-kind love-affairs where…
…every single day seems better than the last?
…it's impossible to keep your hands off of each other?
…you would give up everything you have just to be together?
…your relationship is effortless, adventurous and a hell of a lot of fun?

If so… I found your new theme-song!  (And one you can dance to.)  This, my friend, is where BFF meets LOML.

The alternative rockers Paramore have ventured away from their darker, more serious, gothish compositions of the past and stepped into a much different, peppy, playful, pop-like environment making this their most radio-accessible track to date.

"Still Into You" is three-and-a-half minutes of light-hearted, irresistible, convivial joy that captures what true love feels like.  And, this very personal message comes straight from the heart.  In fact, Paramore lead vocalist Hayley Williams is simply letting everyone know how she feels about her five-year romance with New Found Glory guitarist Chad Gilbert.

Hayley recently explained to Spin magazine, "'Still Into You' is definitely a love song.  It's definitely happy.  But to me anyway -- and obviously I wrote it so maybe I'm biased, but -- it's not a sappy love song."  She added, "…and honestly I don't have a whole lot of experience writing love songs, or anyways lyrics that are like this.  So, I'm just ready.  Wherever this song goes, whatever it does, I'm just excited for our fans to hear it."

"Still Into You" is the second single to come from the band's fourth studio album Paramore which was released last week.

Go ahead.  Give "Still Into You" a listen.  There's a very good chance you'll fall in love with falling in love.

Jerry's Pick: "Awkward"

"AWKWARD"-SAN CISCO

(click on the title above to listen to the song!)

Awkward, indeed.  I first thought about recommending this song over a month ago but was afraid that it would come back to haunt me.  Still could.  But... I'm gonna take that leap.

"Awkward" is a fun, kind of cute and catchy pop-dialogue from a group of Australian youngsters that call themselves San Cisco.  But this musical verbal exchange -- played by lead vocalist Jordi Davieson and drummer Scarlett Stevens -- could have easily been titled "Stalker" instead.

Him (insecure): "I left a message last night, you haven't called back, I've been calling you for days."  Her (uneasy): "I have my keys at the gate.  My mind is made-up to make a quick escape."

For me, "Awkward" reminds me of when I first heard Gotye's "Somebody That I Used To Know."  Not only are the lyrics an uncomfortable conversation between a pair of incompatibles, but both songs are simple in construction and immediately stand out from everything else on the radio.

"Awkward" may be held together by a facile drum and electric guitar riff, but it's the video game synths, cellphone text-like lyrics and especially all of the "dah-dah-dahs" and "doo-doo-doos" that make this recording very unique.

But the song's positives could also be its negatives.  This particular piece of pop-candy borders on the novel.  It may initially please your aural senses, but -- after a number of plays -- "Awkward" has the potential of quickly turning from ear-worthy to ear-worm.

Let's just say it should come with the disclaimer: "Enjoy in moderation."
 

And don't forget about your music mates at Atlas Jams!